NASCAR
Allgaier Finally Summits the Xfinity Series Peak, Takes Title in 14th Attempt
AVONDALE, Ariz. – A season’s if not a career’s worth of drama encapsulated the No. 7 car all weekend in Phoenix. From a practice crash to a flat tire and restart violation, Justin Allgaier overcame one adversity after another over 200 laps. Against all odds with six laps left, the 7 passed for the championship-winning position, only for a caution to fly. After two incredible efforts on overtime restarts, Allgaier took second in the race but first in the 2024 Xfinity Series championship.
Up front the night was largely dominated by Playoff spoiler Riley Herbst. In the final Xfinity Series ride for Stewart-Haas Racing, the No. 98 was in the wind for 167 laps, sweeping all three stages.
Allgaier’s first hurdle of the night occurred in the closing laps of Stage 2. Starting in the rear with a backup car, the 7 rallied early to a top-five position. Battling with Herbst for real estate, the 98 made contact with the 7 and damaged his left rear tire. Allgaier nursed his car home to finish this segment in 10th.
On the ensuing restart, Allgaier pulled out of line before taking the green flag, incurring a penalty. Adding insult to injury, the 7 sped on pit road while serving his pass through. This series of events sent Allgaier as far back as 35th, and a lap behind the leaders.
Thanks to a very timely caution just inside 50 laps left, Allgaier earned the free pass and was back in contention. Fighting and clawing for every spot with laps winding down, Allgaier caught rival Cole Custer inside the final 10 laps.
The No. 7 made the pass on the 00 with six laps left. Third-place appeared to be good enough for a championship-winning drive.
Trouble for Leland Honeyman sent the race into overtime. Pit road shifted into the championship battleground, with Austin Hill eking out first on two scuff tires.
On the overtime restart, Hill overcooked turn one, allowing the seas to part for Allgaier. Another car into the wall triggered a successive yellow, however. Allgaier lined up second for another overtime attempt.
The next restart saw Allgaier initially take command, but Herbst was not to be denied. The last corners coming to the checkers saw the 98 get by the 7 for the win, but second was enough for Allgaier to take the long-awaited crown.
“I counted myself out like 10 times tonight,” Allgaier said. “You fans are awesome, I don’t think I have a voice left because I was yelling. But I’ve been doing this a long time, and these people that are standing around me, I can’t, there’s no words.”
“Rick Brandt, Sierra Brandt, Chrissy, the whole Brandt crew, Jarrett, Hellman’s, all of our partners at the Hendrick Engine Shop, what an engine this weekend. Chevrolet, I mean it’s understated what they’ve done. My wife and my kids, they have given up so much for me to come and do this job.”
“God’s good man. I said it all weekend, I don’t know what the plan is, I don’t know what that looks like, but He’s got a reason for everything. Tonight is truly that, it’s mind-blowing.”
“This team, they never gave up. Jim Pohlman’s leadership skills are second-to-none. He told me all weekend that we were going to have a chance, and man we tried to give it away every which way we could. I was as fast as Xfinity Internet but on pit road, not the racetrack where I needed to be. I just wanted to make it exciting for all the fans here and at home I guess, I don’t know.”
“Dale Jr, Kelly Earnhardt-Miller, LW Miller, everybody at JR Motorsports, all the men and women with all five race teams and all the effort we put in, I’m at a loss for words. We’re going to celebrate this one for sure, it’s unbelievable. I just cannot say thank you enough to everybody that’s ever helped me in my career to get to this point. Seven times in the Championship 4, and we finally got it done. We’re forever a NASCAR champion and there’s no words like that one.”
Herbst and Allgaier were closely pursued by Aric Almirola, Connor Zilisch, and Chandler Smith. Other Championship 4 contenders Cole Custer, AJ Allmendinger, and Austin Hill all rounded out the top-10.
NASCAR Championship Weekend wraps on Sunday with the Cup Series title race. The green flag flies at 3 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo Credit to Meg Oliphant/Getty Images
